Leak at Thai Oil’s terminal in Si Racha district, clean-up operation underway

The Marine Department is still cleaning up about 20 tonnes of crude oil, which leaked into the sea off Si Racha district of Chonburi as a Singaporean oil tanker was discharging its cargo through a pipeline at Thai Oil’s floating jetty last night.

Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri said on Friday that the crude leaked from a damaged pipeline, as the Singaporean oil tanker, Phoenix Jamnagar, was unloading at about 4am this morning.

She said that she has instructed the Marine Department to set up an emergency centre to coordinate efforts to prevent the oil spill from spreading.

According to the Marine Department, the spill has been contained within an area of about 100 square metres and is slowly drifting southward on a current of about one knot.

A 200-metre long boom, dispersant, skimmers and a spray arm have been deployed.

The Marine Department has also sought help from the Royal Thai Navy, by preparing manpower, a vessel and a drone for use in the in the clean-up operation.

In the latest development, Thai Oil announced that it has repaired the damaged pipeline and no more oil is leaking from it.